THE organiser of Scotland’s leading fashion event has hit out at penny-pinching councils after she was forced to take her glamour show to London.

The Scottish Fashion Awards will be held outside Scotland for the first time this year.

The glitzy ceremony will take place at Scottish Secretary Michael Moore’s official headquarters – Dover House in Whitehall – in October after talks with Glasgow and Aberdeenshire councils failed to reach agreement.

Awards founder Tessa Hartmann said: “It’s one of the biggest fashion events in Europe but we couldn’t get a city partner to support it.

“Glasgow offered £10,000 but production costs are at least £500,000. It’s not only about investing in an event but also the global perception of what we can do from Scotland.

“The Mobo awards received £500,000 to have their show here for two years. It’s a great event but doesn’t celebrate or promote Scotland the way we do. We went to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire but, at the 11th hour, were told there was no budget.

“It’s a sad day for Scotland that they don’t understand the business of fashion.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “We committed to the same level of financial support provided in 2012 – despite intimations from organisers that the event would be downscaled in 2013.”